SpaceX’s Falcon 9 Shift Sends Satellite Firms Seeking Launches

SpaceX is signaling that it may end commercial Falcon 9 launches after 2028, pushing satellite companies to secure other ways into orbit. The Wall Street Journal reported the shift as firms face tighter access to the rocket.

The change is not an immediate retirement: SpaceX is expected to keep some Falcon 9 flights for government customers. But Reuters reported that Starlink missions made up about 79% of the Falcon 9 manifest so far in 2026, up from 54% in 2020.

Some firms are buying whole launches rather than waiting for shared rides. Portal Space Systems booked a Falcon 9 for 2028 and plans to resell unused room to other payloads. CEO Jeff Thornburg told Aviation Week that securing the flight helped control the timing of its mission.

Launch brokers are taking similar steps. Exolaunch and SEOPS have each arranged dedicated Falcon 9 flights, while SEOPS has shifted a planned mission to serve demand for a different orbit. The moves show how operators are adapting as launch slots become harder to secure.

Potential alternatives include Blue Origin’s New Glenn, Rocket Lab’s Neutron and Relativity Space’s Terran R. But these options are still building toward broader service: Blue Origin says it aims to return New Glenn to flight by year-end after a May test anomaly, and NASA only added Terran R to its launch-services contract this month.

That leaves customers weighing newer rockets against the schedule and reliability they need. SpaceX’s Starship is the intended successor, but satellite companies cannot assume it will offer the same launch availability or fit every payload’s needs.

The next test is whether other providers can deliver steady launches, not just new vehicles. For satellite makers, the shift means reserving rides earlier and considering dedicated flights or in-space transfer services to reach the right orbit.